Retractable cord device for storing a separate cord and method of storing the same

ABSTRACT

A retractable cord device for storing a separate cord within the device includes a main body and a coiling mechanism coupled to the main body. The coiling mechanism includes a coil drum having a slot formed therein. The slot is constructed and arranged for receiving the separate cord therein. The coiling mechanism further includes a coil coupled to the coil drum and the main body. Upon placing the separate cord in the slot of the coil drum, the coil rotates the coil drum to draw the separate cord within the main body. A method for storing a separate cord within a retractable cord device is further disclosed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/598,949, entitled “RETRACTABLE CORDDEVICE FOR STORING A SEPARATE CORD AND METHOD OF DOING THE SAME,” filedon Aug. 5, 2004, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cord storage device, and moreparticularly, to a retractable cord device for storing a cord that isseparate from the device.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Devices for coiling and storing retractable cords, such as cords used toconnect computers, phones and similar equipment, for example, are wellknown in the art. Such devices, however, typically provide a cord thatis integral with the device. For example, a device having a plasticcasing which houses a cord having at least one end accessible at an endof the casing can be extended by drawing the end of the cord away fromthe casing. The result of this pulling motion is that the cord extendsfrom the casing. By stopping the pulling motion, the cord is typicallylocked in place for use. The cord is then retracted back into the coverby simply pulling one of the ends of the cord whereby a coilingmechanism draws the cord back into the casing for storage.

Anyone who has traveled can appreciate that loose cords are particularlydifficult to store and are often too long for their intended use. Thereis presently a need for a device capable of storing a cord that isseparate from the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, aretractable cord device for storing a separate cord within the devicecomprises a main body and a coiling mechanism coupled to the main body.The coiling mechanism being constructed and arranged to receive and coilthe separate cord within the main body. Upon placing the separate cordin the coiling mechanism, the coiling mechanism is adapted to draw theseparate cord within the main body.

Other embodiments include a cover releasably secured to the main body.Specifically, the cover includes at least two latching prongs, and themain body includes at least two latching prong recesses configured toreceive the latching prongs therein.

In other embodiments, the coiling mechanism includes a coil drum havinga slot formed therein. The slot is constructed and arranged forreceiving the separate cord therein. The coiling mechanism furtherincludes a coil coupled to the coil drum and the main body. The mainbody includes a coil drum seat configured to receive the coil drumtherein. A locking assembly is coupled to the main body. The lockingassembly is constructed and arranged to releasably lock the coil drum inplace. The coil drum has a groove formed around a circumference of thecoil drum, and the locking assembly includes a latch pin that ispositioned to travel within the groove of the coil drum and a lockingnotch to releasably lock the latch pin in place. The coil drum includesa coil stem having the slot formed therein. During use, the separatecord is wrapped around the coil stem when rotating the coil drum.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a methodof storing a separate cord within a retractable cord device comprisesproviding a separate cord; providing a retractable cord devicecomprising a main body, and a coiling mechanism coupled to the mainbody, the coiling mechanism including a coil drum having a slot formedtherein, the slot being constructed and arranged for receiving theseparate cord therein, and a coil coupled to the coil drum and the mainbody; placing the separate cord in the slot of the coil drum; androtating the coil drum to draw the separate cord within the main body.In one embodiment, the method further comprises releasably locking thecord at a desired length.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a retractable cord device in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention with a cover member of thedevice removed to reveal components housed within a main body of thedevice;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the retractable cord device illustratedin FIG. 1 having the cover member inserted in place;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the retractable cord device;

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the retractable cord device;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the retractable cord device;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the retractable cord device with the covermember removed;

FIG. 7 is a top cross-sectional view of the retractable cord device;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the retractable cord device;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the retractable cord deviceillustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the retractable cord device;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the retractable cord deviceillustrated in FIG. 10; and

FIGS. 12 and 13 are modeled images of the retractable cord device shownin FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and the arrangement of components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carriedout in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used hereinis for the purpose of description and should not be regarded aslimiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,”“containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well asadditional items.

Turning now to FIGS. 1-3, there is generally indicated at 5 aretractable cord device in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. The retractable cord device 5 is designed to store aseparately provided cord 70 within the device. The device 5 includes amain body or housing 10 and a cover member 20 that, in the shownembodiment, is adapted to be releasably secured to the main body tocapture the components of the device within the main body. The main body10 includes an axle pin 12, a coil drum recess 14, a cord slot 16,latching prong recesses 18 and a locking arm seat 19. These componentsand features of the retractable cord device 5 will be described infurther detail below.

The cover member 20 has a circular bearing groove 22 that is formed inthe center of the bottom facing surface of the cover member, and twopairs of latching prongs 24 designed to snap fit within the latchingprong recesses 18 formed in the main body 10 to releasably secure thecover member to the main body. It should be noted that any type ofreleasable fastener may be utilized to releasably secure the covermember 20 to the main body 10, and that the provision of the latchingprongs 26 and latching prong recesses 18 is but one way to achieve thisfunction. FIG. 2 illustrates the device 5 with the cover 20 attached tothe main body, wherein the cover is designed to secure the workingcomponents of the device within the main body 10. As shown, one pair oflatching prongs 24 is provided at one end of the underside of the covermember 20, and another pair of latching prongs 24 is provided at theother end of the cover member. The arrangement is such that each pair oflocking prongs defines a cord traveling slot 26 between the latchingprongs 24, through which, along with the cord slot 16, a separatelyprovided cord 70 is received.

The device 5 further includes a coiling mechanism to coil the cordwithin the device after securing the cord 70 to the device. The coilingmechanism comprises a coil drum 30 having a cord coiling stem 32 and acord receiver slot 34. The coiling mechanism further includes a coil 50designed to fit within a downwardly opening cavity or pocket (not shown)formed in the bottom of the coil drum 30. The arrangement is such thatone end of the coil 50 is secured to the axle pin 12 and the other endof the coil is secured to the coil drum 30 when placing the coil drumover the axle pin. Specifically, when the retractable cord device isassembled, the spring coil 50 is inserted into the pocket of the coildrum 30, with one end of the spring coil 50 secured to the inner faceperimeter wall of the coil drum and the other end of the spring coilinserted into a slot formed in the axle pin 12.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, formed along a circumferential edgeof the coil drum 30 is a bi-forked groove 36 with a locking notch 38.The locking action of the coil drum 30 with respect to the main body 10is achieved by a locking arm assembly 60 of the coiling mechanism. Thelocking arm assembly 60 includes a base block 62, a spring arm 64, aspring head 66, and a latch pin 68. As the coil drum 30 rotates as aresult of pulling the cord 70, the latch pin 68 tracks the bi-forkedgroove 36, and during its travel along the groove (either clockwise orcounterclockwise, depending on the direction of bias of the coil 50) thelatch pin 68 is seated within the locking notch 38. The result is theengagement of the latch pin 68 and the coil drum 30 within the lockingnotch 38, which restricts the return of the cord 70 within the device 5.Upon lightly pulling or tugging the cord 70, the latch pin 68 releasesthe coil drum 30 at the locking notch 38, and the coil drum can freelyrotate to either extend or retract the cord, depending on the directionof the stored energy of the coil 50. The locking arm assembly 60 isimbedded within the locking arm seat 19 of the main body 10, the lockingarm seat being oriented at an approximately 45° angle with respect to along axis defined by the main body.

FIG. 3 best illustrates the coil drum 30 having a larger circular bodywith the aforementioned cylindrical pocket to receive the spring coil50, and the cord stem 32 having the cord receiver slot 34. Within thepocket of the coil drum 30, there is formed a conical convex recess thatis shaped to sit tightly on the axle pin 12. Once the coiling mechanismis assembled within the main body 10, a coil drum cover plate 40 isprovided to secure the coil drum 30 and the other components of thecoiling mechanism within the main body drum recess 14.

The retractable cord device 5 is fully assembled when the coil drum 30and the spring coil 50 are placed within the main body drum coil recess14 on top of the conically-shaped axle pin 12. The locking arm assembly60 is positioned within the locking arm seat 19 and the coil drum coverplate 40 is installed on top of the coil drum recess. The cover plate 40may be secured to the main body by an adhesive, for example. In thisposition, the cover plate 40 is aligned with the long axis of the mainbody 10.

In one embodiment, the cover member 20 may be provided to a user in aconfiguration in which the cover plate is separate from the main body10. The user inserts the cord 70 into the cord receiver slot 34 of thecord coiling stem 32 at the midpoint of the cord 70. The user then windsthe cord counterclockwise (or clockwise depending on the configurationof the coil 50) at least once around the stem, and positions the whipsof the cord into the cord slots 16. Next, the user installs the covermember 20 onto the main body 10. The cord coil stem 32 is positionedwithin the circular bearing groove 22 of the cover member 20, and byinserting and snap-fitting the pairs of latching prongs 24 into thelatching prong recesses 18, the cover member is secured to the main body10. Once assembled, the retractable cord device is ready for itsintended use.

The retractable cord device 5 is used by simply pulling the cord 70simultaneously in opposite directions to a desired cord length. Onceextended, the locking arm assembly 60 maintains the extension of thecord 70 at the desired length. The cord 70 is retracted into a coiledposition around the coil drum 30 by simply tugging one of the cord'sends thereby releasing the latch pin 68 of the locking arm assembly 60from the locking notch 38 provided on the coil drum.

Reference may be made to FIGS. 4-13 for views showing certain aspects ofthe present invention as previously described. It should be appreciatedthat a person having ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of thepresent invention, can employ any number of design choices to achievethe purpose of the present invention.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of thisinvention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications,and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Suchalterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part ofthis disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings areby way of example only.

1. A retractable cord device for storing a separate cord within thedevice, the retractable cord device comprising: a main body; and acoiling mechanism coupled to the main body, the coiling mechanism beingconstructed and arranged to receive and coil the separate cord withinthe main body; wherein upon placing the separate cord in the coilingmechanism, the coiling mechanism being adapted to draw the separate cordwithin the main body.
 2. The retractable cord device of claim 1, furthercomprising a cover releasably secured to the main body.
 3. Theretractable cord device of claim 2, wherein the cover includes at leasttwo latching prongs, and wherein the main body includes at least twolatching prong recesses configured to receive the latching prongstherein.
 4. The retractable cord device of claim 1, wherein the coilingmechanism comprises a coil drum having a slot formed therein, the slotbeing constructed and arranged for receiving the separate cord therein,and a coil coupled to the coil drum and the main body.
 5. Theretractable cord device of claim 4, wherein the main body includes acoil drum seat configured to receive the coil drum therein.
 6. Theretractable cord device of claim 4, further comprising a lockingassembly coupled to the main body, the locking assembly beingconstructed and arranged to releasably lock the coil drum in place. 7.The retractable cord device of claim 6, wherein the coil drum includes agroove formed around a circumference of the coil drum, and wherein thelocking assembly includes a latch pin that is positioned to travelwithin the groove of the coil drum and a locking notch to releasablylock the latch pin in place.
 8. The retractable cord device of claim 7,wherein the coil drum further includes a coil stem having the slotformed therein, wherein the separate cord is wrapped around the coilstem when rotating the coil drum.
 9. A method of storing a separate cordwithin a retractable cord device, the method comprising: providing aseparate cord; providing a retractable cord device comprising a mainbody, and a coiling mechanism coupled to the main body, the coilingmechanism including a coil drum having a slot formed therein, the slotbeing constructed and arranged for receiving the separate cord therein,and a coil coupled to the coil drum and the main body; placing theseparate cord in the slot of the coil drum; and rotating the coil drumto draw the separate cord within the main body.
 10. The method of claim9, further comprising releasably locking the cord at a desired length.